Alexis Kagame, in full Abbé Alexis Kagame, Alexis also spelled Alegisi (born May 15, 1912, Kiyanza, Rwanda—died Dec. 2, 1981) Rwandan poet, historian, and Roman Catholic priest, who introduced the written art, both in his own language, Kinyarwanda, and in French, to his country.

Kagame, the son of a deputy chief of the Tutsi people, was baptized in 1928 and ordained a priest in 1941. His considerable activity before and after taking his doctorate at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1955 included teaching, editing the journal Kinyamateka (“The Herald”), and research that resulted in a number of scholarly works. He then resided at the Catholic Mission in Butare, where he divided his time between priestly duties and scholarly pursuits.